“I also hope that beyond this individual case, that there’s been some educating about these laws like ‘stand your ground’ – the danger of them – as well as the reality of racial profiling that we keep ignoring,” Pfleger said.

Pfleger says he also faults downstate lawmakers in Illinois, and the National Rifle Association, for their unwillingness to support gun registration laws.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) is also applauding the decision to charge Zimmerman.

“The shadow of justice is finally revealing itself,” Rush said.

But he says the real credit goes to young people who held rallies on behalf of Martin and his family.

“I really want to commend the young people who really protested this murder,” Rush said. “If it had not been for these young people, Trayvon Martin’s name probably would not have even been known by most of America.”

But Rush says his enthusiasm is tempered because the ultimate outcome of the trial remains to be seen.